I love Yelp! In Dallas on business, and since I have to be away from my family on the weekend, at least my fellow yelpers can help find good food to make the time away from home more tolerable.
R+D Kitchen was a great find. For 7.30p on a Sunday night, I was surprised to find a wait. Dining alone, I opted for immediate seating at the bar. As others have noted, the decor and ambiance is wonderful. It was missing one important component: my wife! Absolutely beautiful restaurant.
They were very busy, but yet the bar staff were doing a good job of attentive service. They took to the time to answer my questions and questions of those around me.
After a long day of flying, setting up our display at the convention center, and then working the show for a few hours, I was really ready for a glass of wine and some quality food. The wine list wasn't long, but I found a really nice zinfandel (Girard Old Vine Zin).
Since I'm watching what I eat, I opted for the Roasted Scottish Salmon, Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli - Pistou on the side...
The portion size was a bit smaller than I expected for the price, but was filling none the less. The salomon was cooked perfectly - thin crisp/crunch finish oun the very outside of the fish, while the inside was so juicy and flakey, perfectly seasoned. R+D's take on pesto (Pistou) was very tastly, a nice match for the salmon. Very fitting for the atmosphere of the restuarant with all the wood and natural feeling of the surroundings. The broccoli pieces were large, and again - perfectly cooked. I have no idea how they were able to not overcook the crowns while perfectly cooking the stems. Finally, the mashed potatoes were amazing. What came to mind with my first bite was something my 4 year old said when we ordered pizza with some great friends at Grimaldi's in Sugar Land (TX) when the pizza arrived with some green vegetables on it: THERE's SALAD ON MY PIZZA!!! (he said in a shocked horrified voice the somebody would dare put salad on his favorite dish)... There was salad in my mashed potatoes! OK, not salad - but that's what my 4 year old would have said. These potatoes were absolutely wonderful! I've never had cabbage integrated into my mashed taters - but sure would love to have the recipie. An unexpected pleasant surprise, giving the potatos a perfect fit with the pistou and seasonings throughout the dish.
No room for desert, but maybe I won't cringe the next time I have to visit the northern end of I-45...
Dallas used to be on the bottom of list of places to go on business - but has significantly moved up the list now! HILLSTONE: When you opening an R+D Kitchen in Houston?!? Can't wait! read more